My Mute Bride

Not long after Victor left, Rachel heard the doorbell ring.

Originally thinking he left something behind, she opened the door, only to see a courier.

“Ms. Rachel Hudson?”

Upon hearing that, Rachel nodded.

“There are two intracity express parcels for you. Please sign here.”

Startled, she signed for the parcels, thereafter receiving a cake and a paper bag.

Right now on the table, there was still half an uneaten cake that Victor had rushed out to buy at noon upon finding out it was her birthday.

So, who bought the cake that the courier delivered?

Setting it aside on the table for now, she pulled a rectangular suede box out of the paper bag.

With a click, she opened it and discovered a silver-colored necklace in the box that glimmered underneath the light

The pendant was in the simple design of a small sun with a hollow center.

Putting down the box, she found a card on top of the cake box that simply read ‘Happy Birthday’ without any signature.

Dumbfounded, she stared at the items until her phone started vibrating.

It was a text message from Julian reading, ‘Did you receive what I sent?’

Immediately, she understood. ‘I did. I was wondering who would remember my birthday.’

‘Don’t forget that you’re a patient of mine. It’s not strange that I would remember your birthday.’

‘Thank you.

‘You’re welcome. Are you free? I just finished work; come down for a walk with me!

Looking at the time, she agreed, ‘Okay.’

At this hour after dinner, the community was lively. All of the houses were lit up, and the sound of children laughing could be heard around the neighborhood as they ran around playing.

Before she could even offer some to anyone, a group of children

is so

making a ‘wait’ motion with her hand, she lifted a knife and a paper

side. “Today is Miss Rachel’s birthday. Before she

to be a little girl in pigtails, immediately said, “Wish Miss

the

must close her

Rachel must blow out

indicate to Julian that there was no

had the children sing ‘Happy Birthday’ in unison. The delicate chorus of young voices would have a healing

“Make a wish.”

There’s no need.

says you have to say it in your heart and not out

her head to look, she found a little girl who wasn’t even at table height yet looking up at

the children, clasped her hands and made a wish. After that, she blew out the candles and began to give the cake out to

say thank you!”

other’s faces. Just like

light of the streetlamp, Rachel finally smiled for the first time in days. Thank

continued, “The most important thing right now is to take care of your body and your mood. You don’t need to worry

worry about me. I never wanted it, anyway, so I might as well pretend

upstairs, then. It’s been getting colder lately,

turned and headed toward

apartment and about to

a loud slam, the door was propped open by a large hand

Rachel saw Justin glowering at her, his darkened face made all the more grotesque by the centipede-like scar on

he out on business? she

sideways into the house and

“I see you’ve been getting

she took two steps back.

her as he pulled off his necktie and threw it

as he sneered, “I suppose you wouldn’t want me to ruin your blissful days,

approached her, forcing her back inch by

had no idea what she did

she staggered after him and was dragged all the way